Indonesia Earthquake: Magnitude 7.7 Quake Death Toll Climbs to 68, Tsunami Warning Issued

Two days after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake shook waters off eastern Indonesia in the early hours of August 15, the toll from the disaster keeps rising. The quake struck around 5:58 a.m. local time near Labuan, in Nagekeo Regency, off the northern coast of Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province. As of August 17, the death toll has climbed to 68, with 213 injured. Because the epicenter was relatively shallow — about 10 kilometers below the seabed — a tsunami warning was issued immediately after the quake, triggering widespread panic.

Background and developments

Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued the tsunami warning right after the quake, judging the risk of a tidal wave to be high; the warning was lifted roughly three hours later. While it was in effect, some 2,000 residents scrambled to evacuate. The highest death toll has come from Manggarai Regency, with additional casualties confirmed in nearby East Manggarai and Sikka regencies. Property damage has also been extensive: about 900 homes have been completely destroyed, with roughly 1,300 homes affected in total. As a result, some 12,800 people have been displaced from their homes and are now staying in shelters.

The bigger problem is that the aftershocks haven't let up. As of August 17, around 1,600 aftershocks have struck East Nusa Tenggara province, three of them magnitude 6.0 or stronger. With roads blocked by landslides in multiple locations and power outages forcing dozens of major gas stations to shut down, rescue teams are struggling to reach affected areas and deliver relief supplies. Indonesia sits at the junction of the Pacific, Eurasian, and Australian plates, straddling both the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Alpine-Himalayan belt — a geological setup that makes it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. The recurrence of quakes above magnitude 7 is very much tied to this geography.

Reactions and outlook

Messages of condolence and offers of support have been pouring in from the international community. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung wrote on social media on August 17: "On behalf of the Korean government, I offer my deepest condolences to the victims and bereaved families who lost loved ones and their homes in this sudden disaster. I sincerely hope as many people as possible are reunited safely with their families." He also expressed hope for a swift recovery under the leadership of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

Local authorities plan to focus all available resources on search-and-rescue operations for the time being, given the continuing aftershocks. However, with roads collapsed and power out in many areas, relief efforts remain difficult, and the death toll and number of displaced people are likely to keep rising over the coming days. Given the scale of the disaster, it remains to be seen how much humanitarian aid will follow from South Korea and other countries.